Putin okays sanctions against Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved a bill to impose economic sanctions on Turkey in the wake of the Turkish military’s November 24 shooting down of a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border. According to a decree issued by President Putin published on the website of the Kremlin on Saturday, Moscow will begin the imposition of bans on some goods and forbids extensions of labour contracts for Turkish nationals working in Russia.

The sanctions also include a halt to chartered flights from Russia to Turkey, while Russian tourism companies are also required to end selling travel packages that could offer a stay in Turkey.

Moscow had earlier vowed to impose economic sanctions on Ankara following Turkey’s recent downing of the Russian Su-24M aircraft.

Russia dismisses Ankara’s claims that the fighter jet violated the Turkish airspace and says it was downed in the Syrian airspace, where the Russian air force has been carrying out combat sorties against positions of Takfiri terrorists since September 30 upon a request by the Syrian government.

Putin said right after the incident that the attack was a “stab in the back by accomplices of terrorists.” — PressTV